First Stop: Soul Escape
In August I attended Justin Giles' Summer Intensive in Burbank, California. It was a week-long workshop that began with all attendees watching a performance of Soul Escape The Company's work called "Beyond the Canvas". It was a show made up of ten performances based around ten famous paintings that provided the back drop for movement. IT WAS SO COOL!
The Soul Escape Company dancers are Madison Burg, Sammi Farber, Merissa Gassel, Lindy Giles, Austin Goodwin, Will Johnston, Deanna Mondello, Amy Nadeau, Jen Osorio, Rachel Gill, Haley Kostas, Cheryl Smith and Rose Yager. Justin is their supportive, creative Coach.
Each morning we would have master classes with Justin, SE Company members or guest choreographers Chris Jacobsen, Matt Cady, Jesse Rae Hartley and Leo Morimune. In the afternoon/evenings, we would go into rehearsal to learn the same choreography the company performed for us. Each summer intensive participant was a cast in a minimum two numbers following an audition and performed "Beyond the Canvas" choreography in the closing show! I performed in "Dust Bowl" and "Scream". In Dust Bowl I played the youngest daughter of a man who left his family and returns later only to deal with the disappointment of his family. I enjoyed every minute of rehearsals!!!
I met the nicest dance kids ever from all over the United States...shout out to my friends Kendall, Nyla, Kaelie, Micheala, Yazzmin, Liv and Rachel!
Below are a few highlights of the master classes...
I had an amazing time at Soul Escape learning from such talented and kind dancers/choreographers. Justin Giles has to be one of the most humble, creative and supportive people I have ever met. I miss him and can't wait to be back at SE next summer to part of such a supportive artistic environment again. Thank you Justin for everything!
